Nationwide CDL Defense Network
Protect Your CDL.
Protect Your Livelihood.
Nationwide attorney network for CDL drivers facing traffic citations, serious violations, and license-threatening charges. Fast attorney dispatch in all 50 states.
- Nationwide network
- Attorneys across all 50 states and D.C.
- Fast attorney dispatch
- Built to match you quickly, before deadlines hit.
- CDL-focused defense
- Lawyers who understand federal CDL consequences.
- License protection
- Focused on keeping you qualified and on the road.
Why this matters
Why CDL tickets are different
A regular traffic ticket can become a career problem for a CDL driver. Commercial drivers are held to a stricter federal standard — and you generally cannot hide a conviction with traffic school the way other drivers can.
Federal serious violations
Offenses like 15-over speeding, reckless driving, and following too closely count toward CDL disqualification.
No masking allowed
Federal law bars hiding CDL convictions through diversion or traffic school. Paying the ticket locks it in.
Your job is on the line
Convictions drive CSA points, insurance hikes, lost loads, and possible termination — not just a fine.
Know the risk
Serious violation consequences
Two serious violations within three years can disqualify your CDL for at least 60 days. Three can mean 120 days or more. These are the offenses that put your license at risk.
- !Excessive speedingDriving 15 mph or more over the posted speed limit.
- !Reckless drivingOperating with willful or wanton disregard for safety.
- !Improper or erratic lane changesUnsafe, weaving, or improper lane movements.
- !Following too closelyFailing to keep a safe distance behind another vehicle.
- !Traffic offense connected to a fatal accidentAny traffic violation arising in connection with a fatality.
- !Driving a CMV without a CDLOperating a commercial motor vehicle without holding a CDL.
- !Driving without the CDL in possessionOperating a CMV without your CDL physically present.
- !Wrong class or missing endorsementDriving without the proper class of license or required endorsement.
- !Texting while drivingTexting while operating a commercial motor vehicle.
- !Using a hand-held mobile phoneHolding and using a mobile telephone while driving a CMV.
What we defend
CDL defense services
Our attorney network is ready to deploy fast across every major citation type that threatens a commercial driver.
Speeding Tickets
SeriousSpeeding tickets hit CDL holders harder than four-wheel drivers. Excessive speed can count as a federal serious violation that threatens your license and your job.
Learn more →Reckless Driving
SeriousReckless driving is one of the most damaging CDL citations. It is a federal serious violation and is frequently charged after a single aggressive-driving stop.
Learn more →Following Too Closely
SeriousTailgating tickets seem minor but are a federal serious violation for CDL drivers. They are common after rear-end stops and rolling traffic enforcement.
Learn more →Improper Lane Change
SeriousImproper or erratic lane changes are federally listed serious violations. They are often paired with other citations after a single traffic stop.
Learn more →Texting / Handheld
SeriousTexting and using a handheld phone while driving a CMV are federally restricted and count as serious violations. Penalties escalate quickly for repeat offenses.
Learn more →Railroad Crossings
SeriousRailroad-grade crossing violations carry their own federal disqualification track for CDL holders — even a first offense brings a mandatory minimum disqualification.
Learn more →Out-of-Service Orders
SeriousDriving while under an out-of-service order is among the most serious CDL offenses, with mandatory disqualification periods and steep civil penalties.
Learn more →DUI / Controlled Substance
SeriousA CDL DUI is a major offense with a one-year minimum disqualification — and a lifetime ban is possible for repeat or transport-related offenses.
Learn more →Accident Citations
SeriousCitations issued after a crash can carry outsized weight — especially any traffic offense connected to a fatal accident, which is a federal serious violation.
Learn more →Logbook / Inspection
Hours-of-service, ELD, and inspection violations can stack up CSA points fast and put you out of service. We help protect your record and your standing.
Learn more →Built for speed
An attorney network ready to deploy
Cited a thousand miles from home? You usually do not have to drive back. A local CDL-focused attorney in the citation jurisdiction can often appear on your behalf, fight the ticket, and negotiate a reduction — while you stay on the road.
- ✓ Fast matching to a CDL-focused attorney in the right court
- ✓ Local knowledge of the prosecutor, judge, and realistic reductions
- ✓ Often able to appear for you so you keep driving
- ✓ One point of contact instead of cold-calling strange firms
Stay alert out there
Speed trap database
Reported enforcement areas along major freight corridors. Informational only — not legal conclusions about any location.
| Highway | Area | Nearby | Common issue |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-5 | MM 205–215 (Tejon Pass) | Lebec / Kern County | Downgrade speed & brake-check enforcement |
| I-5 | MM 257 area | Buttonwillow / Kern County | Commercial speed enforcement |
| I-5 | MM 1–10 (Siskiyou Summit) | Ashland / Jackson County | Grade & chain-law enforcement |
| I-5 | MM 116–119 | DuPont / Pierce County | Speed & following-too-closely patrols |
| I-10 | MM 135–140 | Van Horn / Culberson County | Speed enforcement (75→reduced zones) |
| I-10 | MM 17–20 | Quartzsite / La Paz County | Speed & commercial inspection |
Coast to coast
Interstate defense coverage
Find CDL ticket defense in your state, or explore the interstate corridors where commercial enforcement is heaviest.
Answers for drivers
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are CDL tickets different from regular traffic tickets?+
CDL holders are held to a stricter federal standard. Offenses like 15-over speeding, following too closely, and improper lane changes are 'serious violations' that can lead to disqualification, and CDL holders generally cannot use traffic school or diversion to hide a conviction.
Will paying my ticket make the problem go away?+
No. Paying a ticket is a guilty plea that puts the conviction on your CDL record, where it can trigger disqualification, CSA points, and insurance and employment consequences. Talk to an attorney before paying anything.
I was cited in a state I was just driving through. Do I have to go back?+
Usually not. A local attorney in the citation state can often appear on your behalf, fight the ticket, and negotiate a reduction so you can keep driving without losing days on the road.
How fast can you connect me with an attorney?+
Our network is built for speed. Submit your citation details and we work to match you with a CDL-focused attorney in the right jurisdiction quickly — because court deadlines are short and early action matters.
How many serious violations does it take to lose my CDL?+
Two serious violations within three years can disqualify your CDL for at least 60 days; three within three years can mean 120 days or more. Major offenses like DUI carry a one-year minimum on a first offense.
Is Truckers Legal Shield a law firm?+
Truckers Legal Shield is not a law firm unless expressly stated in a specific jurisdiction. We connect commercial drivers with independent attorneys. Using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Free case review
Get CDL defense help now
Do not ignore the citation. CDL tickets can affect your job, insurance, and future loads. Send your details and we will work to connect you with a CDL-focused attorney fast.
→ A regular ticket can become a career problem.
→ Fast response matters — deadlines are short.
→ Or call (702) 800-9999 right now.
Do not ignore the citation.
A regular traffic ticket can become a career problem for a CDL driver. Fast response matters.